José Tohá | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 28 January 1972 – 5 July 1973 | |
| President | Salvador Allende |
| Preceded by | Alejandro Ríos Valdivia |
| Succeeded by | Clodomiro Almeyda |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 3 November 1970 – 22 January 1972 | |
| President | Salvador Allende |
| Preceded by | Patricio Rojas |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Ríos Valdivia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Tohá González 6 February 1927 Chillán, Chile |
| Died | 15 March 1974 (aged 47) Santiago, Chile |
| Cause of death | Murder by strangulation |
| Resting place | Cementerio General de Santiago |
| Political party | Socialist Party of Chile |
| Spouse |
Victoria Morales Etchevers
(m. 1963) |
| Children | Carolina Tohá Jose Tohá |
| Relatives | Jaime Tohá (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Profession | Lawyer |
José Tohá González (February 6, 1927 – March 15, 1974) was a Chilean journalist, lawyer, and politician of the Socialist Party (PS).
Biography
Tohá was born in Chillán, the son of Spanish immigrant José Tohá Soldavilla and of Brunilda González Monteagudo. After completing his secondary studies in his natal city, he studied law at the Universidad de Chile. While there, he was president of the University of Chile Student Federation (FECh) between 1950–1951. In 1958, he joined the staff of the newspaper Última Hora, and in 1960 he became its editor and majority owner, a position he held until 1970.
In 1942, while still a high school student, Tohá joined the Socialist Party of Chile (PS). He rose to member of its Central Committee, and worked in all four of Salvador Allende's presidential campaigns in 1952, 1958, 1964 and 1970. As the first democratically elected socialist president, President Salvador Allende named Tohá his first Minister of the Interior and vice president, a position he held until he was accused by Congress of tolerating the creation of left-wing paramilitary organizations. Allende responded by naming him Minister of Defense, a deliberate challenge to his right-wing detractors. As such, Tohá had to deal with the Tanquetazo putsch, the first attempt at a military-led coup d'état, on 29 June 1973.
After his death, his wife and children lived in exile in Mexico City for several years. His family returned to Chile in the early 80's, where his wife worked in the resistance to the Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship.
Personal life
Tohá married Raquel Victoria Morales Etchevers (also known as Moy de Tohá) in 1963.
Additional information
External links and references
- Biographical sketch (in Spanish)